Texas Tech, LSU take different paths on offense, defense

There are few offenses like Texas Tech's in SEC country. LSU's defense might stick out in the Big 12.

Something has to give when the teams meet in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl at 8 p.m. Tuesday at NRG Stadium.

If bowl season is all about pairing teams that would seldom be seen together, then the Texas Tech-LSU matchup fits the description. The teams couldn't be any more different, especially on offense.

Much of the focus might be on what LSU's defense can do against the Red Raiders' up-tempo offense or if Texas Tech's defense can handle star LSU running back Leonard Fournette.

Comparing the teams on offense shows how different the paths to Tuesday's game has been.

"We realize they've scored a lot of points against some really good teams this year," LSU sophomore wide receiver Malachi Dupre said. "We realize they're going to come in and going to have opportunities for big plays early and often. We know we just have to execute the plays that our coaches call and just try and score whenever we have the opportunity to. Because we know they can score points whenever.

"We know we have a really good defense, but we don't want to rely on them at all."

More Information

About the game

Who: LSU (8-3) vs. Texas Tech (7-5).

When/where: 8 p.m. Tuesday; NRG Stadium.

TV: ESPN; 1180 AM.

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Tigers tinker

LSU's offense, specifically the passing game, has been a topic of conversation this season.

The Tigers' 173.09 yards through the air per game this year is 12th in the SEC. Their total passing yards are last in the conference at 1,904. LSU scored 16.5 points per game through a 1-3 mark in November.

LSU coach Les Miles said before the team's arrival in Houston there might be some tinkering with the offense, but he surrendered no details.

"I think the things that we've had success with, you'll see again and again," Miles said. "Hopefully we'll throw the football better."

There also has been talk of Miles making changes on his coaching staff, which the coach declined to discuss. He just wants to see the offense take a step forward Tuesday.

LSU players believe that's possible. They like what they've seen from sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris in practice.

More than anything, the Texas Bowl can be a turning point for the Tigers on offense, considering the time they've had to address it in practices leading up to Tuesday.

"It's kind of like a little minicamp that we had," Dupre said. "I don't want to say we have to start from square one. I don't want to say we want to reinvent the passing game because we had some times this year where it was successful.

"We know we have a really good rushing attack. We need to balance it out and get the passing game going more, and I think we'll be ready and we'll have some good plays."

Raiders flying high

Miles and LSU will get a good look at how Texas Tech's spread offense works.

After Washington State's bowl, Texas Tech jumped into first in the country in passing with 389.7 yards per game. It means LSU's defense will see three of the country's top offenses, statistically, this season with Western Kentucky and Mississippi in the fold, too.

Texas Tech running back DeAndre Washington doesn't have to be told about what he's up against.

LSU's total defense is 25th in the country. No Big 12 team is in the top 25 in that category. Texas Tech is 126th.

"LSU, their background speaks for itself," Washington said. "We know what they've done in the past. They're a quality opponent. So it gives us a good chance to go out there and make a statement."